Disney's New Princess Is an Ocean Explorer From the South Pacific

Disney has dropped new info about their next major animated project—Moana, about a teenaged Polynesian girl who sets out for adventure on the high seas. Due to hit theaters in 2016, I hope it inspires a Frozen-style craze for marine biology among kids.

Details were scant back in January, when we first wrote about the project. The L.A. Times has an update, confirming the female protagonist. Which isn’t especially surprising, considering that Frozen, a movie about a pair of sisters fighting in sisterly fashion, made approximately one umpteen bazillion dollars. Disney also revealed more plot specifics:

Directed by Ron Clements and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “The Princess and the Frog”), “Moana” is to tell the story of a spirited teenage girl and “born navigator” who sets sail in search of a fabled island in the ancient world of Oceania. Along the way, she teams up with a demigod named Maui and encounters mythical creatures and places.

“Moana is indomitable, passionate and a dreamer with a unique connection to the ocean itself,” said Musker, adding that, “She’s the kind of character we all root for.” Presumably the team at Disney World is already working on how to install a fully-functioning Pacific Ocean in the middle of the park.